Associate, Public Sector Practice

Social Finance; California; On-site; USD 81,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health care

Retirement plan

Hybrid work

Paid time off

Parental leave

Commuter benefits

Cell phone reimbursements

Job summary

Social Finance is seeking an Associate, Public Sector to join our team in advancing innovative funding structures and data‑driven practices. The role supports projects across Advisory, Field Building and Firm Building, working with government, philanthropy and industry partners.

Ideal candidates have 2–5 years of relevant experience, strong analytical and communication skills, and familiarity with AI tools or platforms. The position offers hybrid work across multiple office locations in the U.S.

Qualifications

• Entrepreneurial candidates with flexibility and passion for mission.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills; basic statistics a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research, analyze data, and review evidence to support project design and recommendations.
• Manage project timelines, coordinate team tasks, and ensure effective communication within the team.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Verbal communication

Written communication

Research and synthesis

AI tools familiarity

Cross-sector collaboration

Project coordination

Growth mindset

Inclusion and equity

PowerPoint

Excel

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

About Us

Social Finance is a national nonprofit and registered investment adviser expanding economic opportunity in America. We bring government, philanthropy, and business leaders together to improve systems and put capital to work in new ways. Since our founding in 2011, we have mobilized more than $500 million to create measurable results in workforce and education, health, and housing.

We are driven by the belief that social and economic systems should enable all people to thrive, and the conviction that we can create the most meaningful and measurable change in our communities when governments and markets work together. Our organization is built upon five core values: people, performance, integrity, collaboration, and inclusion.

Our work spans four areas: Impact-first Investing, Workforce and Education Investments, Advisory & Public Sector Practice, and the Social Finance Institute. Our Impact-first Investment team designs, launches, and manages investments that provide solutions for effectively deploying impact capital across a range of social outcomes. Our Workforce and Education Investments team designs, launches and manages financial solutions focused on addressing workforce challenges, including skills acquisition and training access. Our Advisory team partners with government and philanthropy leaders to implement data-driven programs for advancing social impact. And through the Social Finance Institute, we aim to build the field and change systems through actionable research, communities of practice, and educational outreach.

The Public Sector Practice

Through our Public Sector practice, we work alongside impact-focused leaders to build innovative funding structures and implement data-driven practices that deliver better results for people and communities.

Role and Responsibilities

This Associate, Public Sector position is based in either our Boston, MA, Washington D.C, San Francisco, CA or Austin, TX office. Associates of the Public Sector are an integral part of the Social Finance team and are staffed to multiple Advisory projects that span our various service offerings. Working together with a team, key activities may include:

Public Sector Projects

• Conduct research, analyzing data, and reviewing evidence to support project design decisions, test hypotheses, and drive recommendations to optimize operations and help achieve project outcomes

• Exercise progressing project management skills to include scheduling meetings, aiding in the execution of work plans, overseeing project timelines, coordinating team tasks, and ensuring effective communication within the team.

• Create, deliver and present materials, analyses, key findings and recommendations for both internal team and external partners; Lead interviews and facilitate discussion groups

• Conduct economic cost-benefit and other forms of analyses

• Support the drafting and review of contract, governance and scope-of-work documents; Write summaries, reports and email correspondence, etc.

• Research potential project partners; analyzing their performance and ability to achieve future outcomes to identify promising programs and support project design

• Collaborate with evaluation firms, when needed, to identify and measure key performance outcomes

Field Building

• Write blog posts and support the creation of white papers and reports that publish key learnings and findings from our work

• Contribute to and support research efforts in social issue areas and interventions

Firm Building

• Apply technical expertise in AI tools and infrastructure to help test and implement improved processes across systems and active projects

• Support analysis and writing for responses to proposal documents (i.e. Requests for Proposals) and concept notes for potential business development opportunities

• Create communications materials and preparing managers for external calls that could lead to new opportunities

• Contribute to capacity-building initiatives, such as recruiting, professional development, knowledge management, fundraising, or other internal projects

• Provide real-time feedback to team members to support professional growth and contribute to high-quality deliverables

• Support senior management, internal functional teams, and Social Finance project teams as needed

• Support our goal to foster a culture of well-being and belonging

Qualifications

We are looking for entrepreneurial candidates with flexibility, aptitude, and passion for our mission. Candidate requirements:

• 2-5 years of full-time professional experience in a role with relevant and transferrable skills, which may include those focused on research, consulting, finance, project management, social impact, or other

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills; basic statistical knowledge is a plus

• Strong verbal and written communication skills

• Ability to quickly research, synthesize and summarize key takeaways on unfamiliar topics

• Experience with AI tools or platforms in a professional setting (e.g. prompt engineering, AI-assisted workflows, or data infrastructure)

• Ability to communicate and work closely with many types of partners across multiple sectors; willingness to constructively express your point of view and hear the point of view of others, both internally and externally

• Commitment to high-quality work and accuracy, with an ability to manage multiple and competing priorities simultaneously

• Capacity to work independently while contributing to team projects as appropriate

• Demonstrated interest in and knowledge of or willingness to learn about key issues in nonprofit management, social interventions, government services, and/or impact investing

• Ability to adapt, be flexible and operate with a growth mindset

• Commitment to enhancing a team culture of inclusion, belonging and equity

• The following are not required, but would be considered as a plus for your candidacy:

• Experience in or with the systems we seek to impact

• Advanced PowerPoint experience

• Advanced experience in Excel

Benefits

At Social Finance, we strive to deliver a benefits program that will enhance our overall value proposition to employees. Our current benefit offerings include:

• Comprehensive health care coverage: medical, dental and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; Employee Healthy Actions programs and more

• Retirement savings plan with employer contribution

• Short-term, long-term and life insurance policies

• Commuter benefits and cell phone reimbursements

• Hybrid work model (in office a minimum of two days per week and on an ad-hoc basis as needed)

• Dedicated budgets for team building and employee recognition

• Annual budget for external professional development opportunities

• Mentorship and onboarding programs

• Collaborative and energizing workspaces in downtown Boston, San Francisco, Austin and Washington, D.C.; New York, NY. This position can be hired in Austin, Boston, San Francisco or Washington D.C.

• Paid vacation and paid holidays (with 12/24-1/1 off every year)

• Paid parental leave

• A truly stellar team of high performing, values-driven and fun (!) professionals

Salary

Social Finance uses a lockstep compensation model for purposes of equity and transparency - we strive for everyone coming in at a given level to be paid equitably. For this position, at the Associate level, the starting base salary is $81,000; however, during the interview process, we will take into account a candidate's full work experience and may adjust the job title, and commensurate starting salary, as appropriate. If joining our San Francisco office, this hire would receive an additional $1,000 for every month they are residing in the state of California within a commutable distance of our office in San Francisco.

At this level, employees typically receive a $2,500 salary increase annually and are eligible to participate in our firmwide annual bonus program (bonuses are typically between 5-10%, though bonuses are not guaranteed and are dependent on both organizational and individual performance).

Applicants must be permanently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Please note that, at this time, to be in-person at a Social Finance office, client location or Social Finance-sponsored event, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including receiving a booster shot.

Social Finance, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, citizenship, ancestry, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, military status, status as a protected veteran, genetic information or any other legally protected status.

Social Finance is committed to providing an accessible and supportive work environment to ensure individuals are able to contribute at their best. We will discuss and provide reasonable accommodations to those in the recruiting process who need them.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.